Scripture Central

Follow the Israelites through one of the most dramatic turning points in scripture—crossing the Red Sea and entering the wilderness—in this episode of Handmaidens, Harems, and Heroines with Lynne Hilton Wilson. Covering Exodus 14–18, this episode highlights the faith and leadership of women during moments of both triumph and trial. At the center is Miriam, the prophetess, who leads the women of Israel in joyful praise after the Lord delivers His people from Egypt. With timbrels in hand and voices lifted in song, these women model gratitude, unity, and a deep recognition of God’s power in their lives.

But the story of these chapters also reminds us that even the faithful can struggle. As the Israelites face hunger, thirst, and uncertainty in the wilderness, murmuring and doubt begin to surface among the people—including their leaders. Miriam’s later experience with disobedience and its consequences invites a deeper discussion about accountability, humility, and the refining process of discipleship. Lynne Hilton Wilson explores how these women teach us not only how to rejoice in God’s blessings, but also how to navigate moments of weakness with faith, repentance, and renewed devotion.

In the last several episodes, we considered the essential problem in life. In this and many of the coming episodes, we will focus on the Solution.

We are in essentially the same position as Adam and Eve. We are told not to violate the commandments of God (partake of the fruit of the tree of good and evil), but for whatever reason, we do. We suffer the same consequence (cut off from the tree of life) as we gain the same benefit (the knowledge of good and evil), and we must discover the same and only Solution. We can’t partake of the fruit of the tree of life without going through Christ.

Jesus Christ is the solution. He alone bridges the gap.

As with all of scripture, the Gospel of John points to Christ and engenders faith in Him, but John especially reveals the Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Join us as we walk through the Gospel of John, uncovering insights into the character of Christ.

Welcome to “Finding Christ in the Old Testament.” To view the resources connected with this episode, visit https://johnhiltoniii.com/findingchrist.
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Alone, without God, darkness prevails. The natural state of the universe is darkness. That is true for all of us individually and spiritually as it is universally and physically.

Sin leads to darkness. When light dims, darkness emerges and in the dark, we are lost and stumble. As said in Proverbs, when we “… leave the paths of uprightness (we) walk in the ways of darkness.”

Ignorance and unbelief are also shrouded in darkness.

Unbelief and disbelief are often used interchangeably, but they are different. Unbelief is the absence of belief, usually because of ignorance. Disbelief, however, is much darker; it is the unwillingness to believe or the rejection of truth. Unbelief is a vacuum; disbelief is rejection and, of the two, disbelief is far more devastating.

Darkness and death never fall so hard and cold as for those who deny truth once revealed by the Holy Ghost. The degree of darkness is probably commensurate with the degree of light denied, but the darkness of disbelief is deeper than the darkness of unbelief or sin.

It is one thing to fall short of the truth, but it is far worse to deny it.

Transcript/Notes: https://storage.googleapis.com/scripturecentral-prod-strapi-uploads/Episode_7_Final_98ee336703/Episode_7_Final_98ee336703.pdf

In this episode of Handmaidens, Harems, and Heroines, host Lynne Hilton Wilson explores the Book of Exodus chapters 7–13, where God’s power is revealed through the dramatic plagues that fall upon Egypt. As Moses confronts Pharaoh again and again, the escalating plagues show that the Lord alone rules heaven and earth, giving Pharaoh repeated opportunities to recognize His authority. For the enslaved Israelites, these events must have strengthened their faith as they witnessed the Lord defending His covenant people. Through these miracles, the narrative builds toward the ultimate act of deliverance—the Passover—foreshadowing the saving power of the Lamb of God.

While these chapters center on Moses and Pharaoh, this episode also highlights the often-overlooked experiences of women within Israelite homes during these pivotal moments. Israelite mothers played a crucial role in faithfully preparing the Passover meal, marking their doorposts with the lamb’s blood, and teaching their children the sacred meaning of the night of deliverance. Their quiet obedience and faith helped preserve the covenant within the family and ensured that the memory of God’s saving power would be passed from generation to generation. As Lynne Hilton Wilson explains, these women stand as powerful examples of covenant faith—participating in God’s work of redemption within their homes and pointing symbolically to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Firstborn who delivers all God’s children from spiritual bondage.